Food Waste - Negative Effects & Potential Solutions
Food waste contributes significant impacts on the environment and is a growing concern globally. There are various ways in which food waste negatively affects the environment and some potential solutions for industry and individuals to solve this problem.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Food waste generates greenhouse gas emissions when food is not properly disposed of and ends up rotting in landfills. As the food breaks down, it releases potent greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. By way of example, the Environmental Protection Agency estimates that food waste is the third-largest source of emissions in the United States.
Wasted Water
If you've ever been to a farm or a processing plant, you'll know that producing food requires a significant amount of water, in itself a very valuable commodity, and when this food is wasted, so is the water that was used to produce it. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation estimates that it takes about 250 litres of water to produce just one kilogram of food, and when this food goes to waste, so does the water. If you're interested knowing more about how much water is used in producing food, we highly recommend you read "Your Water Footprint" by Stephen Leahy (a fantastic great eye opener).
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Land Use
Growing food requires land, and when food is wasted, the land that was used to produce it is also wasted. According to the FAO, approximately one-third of the world's arable land is used to grow food that will never be eaten.
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Biodiversity Loss
Food waste contributes to biodiversity loss. The production of food often involves the clearing of land, which can lead to the destruction of natural habitats and the loss of biodiversity.
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Possible Solutions
At a very basic level (and we do mean basic), there are several solutions that we can act upon to help reduce the negative impacts of food waste on the environment.
Reducing What We Buy
As consumers, we can reduce our food waste by planning our meals, buying only what we need, and storing food properly to extend its shelf life. If you want to know how effective you are at doing this, maybe do an audit of your fridge or pantry.
Food Recovery Programs
For industry, food recovery programs help reduce food waste by rescuing and distributing surplus food to those in need.
Food waste has significant impacts on the environment and must be addressed to help preserve our planet for future generations.?By reducing what you waste, what you buy and (if you're in industry) participating in food recovery programs, we can make a positive impact on the environment and help reduce the negative consequences of food waste. We all have a part to play in solving this problem.
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